Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE:
"The exact number of dead is unknown, but we have estimated over two hundred," Unohana said sadly to the other captains. "All of them were killed in the exact same way: they were killed with no outside wounds inside rooms locked from the outside with slashed golden coins for eyes. We would all most likely be among them if it wasn't for Kagami Masako."
There was a long silence as they all remembered what had happened.
Kagami slumped unconsciously against the wall, three swords thrust through her torso, a dagger pinning each hand into the wall in the center of the palm, and her legs chained together. Crimson blood continued to stain her white and silver shihakusho, which was torn around the blades' entrances and exits.
"KAGAMI!" Asami Chiasa and Kohana Miyuki had screamed, trying to approach her body, but an invisible shield prevented them. It was like glass-you couldn't get near her without crashing into the smooth wall. It surrounded the group in a large circle, above and below them. They tried every way they knew how to break it, but it never budged. Silver mist still trickled out of Kagami's body and around the walls of the barrier, healing the injuries they inflicted on themselves as they tried to reach her.
Finally, Kuchiki had knelt next to the barrier. "We're healed," he said quietly, feeling his throat constrict as he looked at his subordinate. "Heal yourself now."
There was silence, then the silver mist receded back into her. Her entire body was suddenly surrounded in thousands of tiny silver threads, like she had been wrapped in spider webs. After several long minutes, her eyes fluttered open.
"KAGAMI-SAMA!"
"KAGAMI SENSEI!"
She gave a small, weak smile when she saw them. She winced, pulling her hands free from the daggers, leaving large holes in her palms that immediately began to heal. Then, she pulled out the three swords from her chest, each of them making sickening sounds as she did. Kagami leaned down and shattered the chains on her legs, then forced herself to stand, the silvery threads still wrapped around her. She had to lean against the wall for a few seconds before she was able to begin shakily walking.
She approached the barrier and tapped it once. There was the screeching sound of glass being broken right before it disappeared.
Kagami bowed. "Forgive me for disobeying your order to follow you, Captain-"
She was suddenly cut off when Kohana rammed into her, making her gasp in pain before she returned the embrace. Her wounds were still nowhere close to being completely healed, and Kohana's tears stung them as blood continued to drip down, staining her shihakusho as well. "I'm so happy you're alright," she had sobbed before Asami had pulled her away.
"I'm glad you're okay," Asami had said, her eyes wet. "I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough, but-"
Kagami had cut her off, her small smile kind. "You made me proud that you were my student," she said. "That's all that really matters, right?" she had managed to murmur before she had suddenly collapsed into Kuchiki's arms, the silvery threads vanishing suddenly. She shuddered in her sleep, her face twisted in pain.
Unohana had immediately rushed her to the 4th Division, Asami and Kohana following.
"Is she awake yet?" Ukitake asked quietly.
Both Kuchiki and Unohana shook their heads. Kuchiki had accompanied Unohana when she had rushed their shared subordinate to her division. He had only left when Unohana had reassured him that Kagami had already healed herself enough that she would be fine. He had visited earlier that morning. Asami and Kohana were still with her in the hospital room, waiting for her to wake up. Ichigo had left back to the World of the Living, but not before wishing the unconscious woman his best. Ikkaku had done the same thing before he had returned to the 11th Division.
"That barrier," Komamura said. "That was to protect us, wasn't it?"
Unohana nodded. "She used it to protect us from any more injuries, and it was embedded with her healing power that we saw leaking out of her. She healed us before she started healing herself. We're lucky she's still alive. The injuries we all sustained should have been fatal."
There was another silence. But everyone jerked to look at the door when they heard several familiar voices.
"DAMMIT! WHATEVER IDIOT THAT DESIGNED THIS DAMN PLACE SHOULD DIE!"
"But I thought he was already dead." A pause. "Ow!"
"GAH! I HATE THIS DAMN PLACE! WE'VE BEEN HERE A MILLION TIMES AND IT STILL DOESN'T MAKE ANY FUCKING SENSE!"
"You really should not curse so."
"Make me, bitch."
"You shouldn't say that kind of thing to Kagami-sama!"
"ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A FIGHT?"
"Eek!" The door burst open, Kohana stumbling in, her arms waving around as she failed to find her balance, falling to the floor. "Meanie!" she shouted, sticking her tongue out at Asami before she scrambled to hide behind Hitsugaya.
Asami strode in a second later, looking bored as she surveyed the scene. She glared at Kohana for a second before stretching languidly, just like a cat, then leaning against the wall and crossing her arms.
And, last but not least, Kagami walked calmly in, her small amused smile on her face like always. She looked as if she had never been injured in the first place, except that when she clasped her hands together, all the captains saw the scars on her palms. She bowed. "Forgive us for the interruption, Captains, but-"
"Ah, just skip to the point!" Asami groaned. "It's not like we're having tea together, for crying out loud!"
Kohana peeked out from behind Hitsugaya to see if the coast was clear before skipping out and perching on Kagami's back. Kuchiki was the only one who saw her slight wince. It seemed that she still wasn't completely healed.
"Why are you here?" Kyoraku smiled. "Not that it isn't wonderful to see you beauties looking better."
"Nanao-chan would have hit you for saying that," Kohana said, letting out a trill of laughter. Some of the captains nodded in agreement.
"Chiasa, Miyuki, and I are here to ask for permission to go to the World of the Living," Kagami said quietly, making everyone look at her in amazement.
"You can't leave," Komamura growled. "We need you here. What if more of those people come back?"
Soi Fon nodded in agreement. "We need you here."
Kuchiki's eyes narrowed slightly. He hated to admit it, but he didn't like the idea of Kagami leaving.
Yamamoto cleared his throat, making everyone turn to look at him. "Why do you want to go to the World of the Living?" he asked.
"I have contacts there," Kagami said, closing her eyes.
"What kind of contacts?"
"People that are experienced in dealing with assassins like the ones you saw last night."
There was a pause. "What exactly do you know about those assassins?"
Kagami opened her eyes. "I know what Butterfly has told me. There are four kinds of assassins. From what I have heard, the ones that defeated you last night were the lowest kind, which are known as fish-bait. A fish-bait level assassin usually has the skills and power of a lieutenant or captain. Next is the rust-class, and those assassins have the skills and powers of a captain in bankai form. They are the weakest and most plentiful. The three that approached you last night were coins-class assassins. They have the power a member of the Royal Special Task Force. That last kind is a Jewel assassin. There are few in the world, maybe three or four at a time. They have the skills of the High Marshal of the Ring of One in the Royal Special Task Force, and the power of a member of the Royal Family."
Kagami finished, and all the captains' eyes were wide. The people last night had been the weakest kind of assassin?
"Even more reason you shouldn't go, if there are rust- and coin-class assassins out there!" Ukitake exclaimed.
"Even more reason we should," Asami snarled. "You need the help. There's only three of us here! We can't exactly do everything!"
Zaraki blinked. "How exactly were you able to defeat them so easily?"
Kohana giggled at that, making everyone look at her. "Kagami-sama trained us," she said like it explained everything. "She taught us everything!"
Everyone then stared at Kagami. She just smiled back, closing her eyes as she did.
"How about a compromise," Yamamoto finally declared, making her eyes fly open to look at him.
"What kind of compromise," she said in the exact same tone.
"You stay here and train the shinigami on ways to fight these assassins. In return, I let Kohana and Asami leave to find these contacts of yours."
"They will only answer to me."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"Let Asami and Kohana train the shinigami and let me go to the World of the Living. I only need three days, maximum, to reach them. I give my word that I will return when they are over."
"How can we trust that you will do what you say you will, and won't leave because you believe these assassins are after you?"
"I have given my word. However, if you doubt my honor so much, send a captain to go with me to watch over me."
"Fine. Captain Kuchiki, as her captain, you know her best. You'll go with her."
Kuchiki blinked, then nodded. "Very well."
"Good," Yamamoto sighed. "It's settled, then."
"Baka," Asami scoffed. "You just totally dissed us, not believing we'd do what we say we will. Not the best thing to do since we're THE ONLY FUCKING CHANCE YOU HAVE OF SURVIVAL!"
Kohana nodded in agreement. "I don't think you're very nice after all," she frowned, looking hurt. She buried her face in Kagami's shihakusho. "You're mean! I don't want to be here anymore!"
"Amen, sister," Asami growled.
"You can't leave!" Ukitake exclaimed, his eyes wide. "We need you!"
"THEN DON'T FUCKING DISS US! WHEN WE SAY WE'LL FUCKING DO SOMETHING AND GIVE OUR DAMN WORD, WE'LL DO IT!"
"Please do not swear," Kagami said with an inaudible sigh.
"NO! I FUCKING HATE THEM RIGHT NOW!"
Kagami let out another inaudible sigh, and bowed. "Thank you, Captains. We shall be leaving now."
"But Asami doesn't look like she wants to leave," Kohana said.
Asami was currently hurling obscenity after obscenity at the captains, along with threats and curses. Kagami just smiled and grabbed Asami's arm. She winced, yelping in pain, as she was forcibly made to leave.
The doors closed, leaving all the captains shocked. That was often the feeling that was left after those meetings that included those three women.
"Maybe you shouldn't have questioned Kagami's word," Kurotsuchi said to Yamamoto, who was thinking the exact thing.
Kuchiki cleared his throat softly. "It seems that I should be preparing to leave," he said.
Yamamoto nodded. "Very well. You may leave."
Kuchiki gave a small nod, then left.